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| Escape consumerism - try not buying anything |
My partner and I have been enjoying not buying anything (except necessities) as an ongoing lifestyle. It is permanent - we do not plan on going back to a high-consumption way of life. We have discovered how much we already have, and how little we need.
We also wanted to reduce the number of hours of wage labour we needed to engage in so we could enjoy life more, and nurture our priorities.
Along the way we have become better at not buying anything. These are some of the things that have helped us move closer to our goals:
How To Not Buy Anything
- The best way to not buy anything is to reduce your desires. Ask yourself if you really need the item in question. Really need. No, really. Keep on asking. Life can be complete, exciting, and rewarding without spending money.
- Consider (as much as possible) the full environmental and social consequences of your purchases. That alone will make most stuff less attractive.
- Lower your income. The less money you have, the less you will spend. If you like your high income work, save the money you would otherwise let slip through your fingertips. Share it.
- Don't pay for anything that you can make or do yourself. This includes cooking, haircuts, riding a bike or walking for transportation, repairs around the house, and growing a garden. The potential list is huge, depending on your skills and how much time you have. Public libraries and the Internet are the go-to places for free resources to learn how to make and do new things. It is fun.
- Separate socializing and commerce. This is a hard one since the majority of social outings are based on spending money. Suggest meeting on a bench somewhere, and bring a thermos of hot beverage and a snack from home. Have a picnic in a park. Meet in a public venue with bag lunches. Go for a walk together.
- Don't buy anything that is not good for you or for others. Processed foods, snack foods, restaurant food, alcohol, and violent movies are things that probably are not so good for us - why spend money on them? We cut our gas purchases by 50% this year because burning fossil fuels degrades our collective resource - the atmosphere.
- Resist the urge to upgrade. Upgrades are expensive and wasteful. Ask yourself if it is really necessary to replace perfectly good devices with ones that are questionably 'better' or 'improved'. When you buy something, try using it until it wears out and dies a natural death. Many things you may never need to buy again.
- When you go out take food and water with you. Even crappy fast food and pop or bottled water are temptations when you're thirsty and hungry. We never leave home on longer outings without food and something to drink. This makes spontaneous picnics possible, and we have them frequently. Costs less, and no garbage is generated.
- Do not compare yourself to those around you. It does not matter what other people have, or think you should have. It does not matter if those around you go for annual vacations in warm third world destinations. The Joneses lost the house, gave up, and left the neighbourhood years ago.
- Make what you already own last as long as possible. Use your things gently, maintain them, keep them clean, and lower your cost per use.
- Try not to be guilted into buying things. Reduce the obligations that you do not agree with that make you feel like you 'have to' buy things.
- Number 1 is worth repeating. The best way to not buy anything is to reduce your desires.
The antiquated idea of 'the one who dies with the most toys wins' is dead. We have the capacity to be happier with less. The more we live this way, the more we wonder what all the other stuff was for.
The high consumption lifestyles that we are trained to aspire to are looking obscenely wasteful in an increasingly wasted, famine-ridden world.
We hope our tips will help you not buy anything except the necessities - for a day, a Christmas, a whole year, or as an ongoing, low impact, sustainable lifestyle.
You are such an inspiration. I'm trying very hard to cut back on things we don't need and use up what we have. I have a garden and I'm in a CSA. It's very hard to teach my daughter (14) about what we need vs what we want.
ReplyDeleteYou are teaching you daughter about needs vs wants without saying a thing. The example you are setting by doing things like growing a garden, being in a CSA, and asking questions about what we really need is the most powerful teaching lesson.
DeleteShe may resist now, but she will never forget what she observes you doing in your day to day life. One day she will realize you are trying to be part of the solution.
When she is ready, she will follow your lead because it is the right way to go.
Excellent site! I've added your site to "My Favorites"! I recently completely got rid of my cable and am not missing it one bit! I'm currently working on #6 which sometimes is challenging but I know once I tackle it I will be so much healthier and lighter! Thanks again for your great site!!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on ditching the cable. It is amazing how we do not miss things we think we need, but that aren't really required for a happy life.
DeleteHere is to your health and lightness!
Glad you found us, and like what you see. Welcome to our growing community.
Greg,
ReplyDeleteOne thing I struggle with is that I'll meet friends for dinner and end up spending $20-30 at one sitting. This accounts for a lot of spending - more than I care to admit. I enjoy my meal and drinks in that moment, but then feel guilty later.
All the best - Mindy
Our guilt eventually got the best of us and now we eat out very, very rarely. We prefer to invite people over and cook for them, or have a potluck. Picnics are a favourite, too.
DeleteWe just think of the amount of groceries we could buy with the money we would spend going out for food.
This is a great article. I do however take issue with #4 in that we NEED economies. Buying local goods or fairtrade goods that support local economies is a good thing isn't it? Use a local currency if you have one. Trade if you can. But let's not try and do everything ourselves! This is just silly :-)
ReplyDeleteWe can do everything ourselves together.
DeleteAfter reading this now it reminded me why I can't be asked or influenced to buy anything even if its 50% off or whatever, regardless how hard they try - I've stopped listening. It seemed the more I spent the more those possessions irritated me.
ReplyDeleteThese days I travel alot less and even then with just a carry-on bag, buy less food and I'm skinnier, drive less, own less. It appears less is more and I feel less encumbered. I feel more liberated.
Its a strange feeling that not spending makes me feel more liberated. I agree with Weldo to a point, we do need economies but spending should be meaningful. I don't believe spending money today is as meaningful as it was last century.
I see people in the USA who surround themselves with possessions {appears like piles of junk to me} when filmed at home on Oprah, etc. Even after they lose their homes from forecloser they jam their cars or trailers with junk and live in them. Regardless it will ALWAYS end up in landfill- EVENTUALLY. Think about it. But the kids seem livelier playing outside instead of glued to their gadgets and screens.
You may say "oh its easy for you to say this all comfy in your apartment".
I once lived in something you might call a severley delapitated house infested with rats and mice but we kept them under control and lived with the most basic nessecities. Life was better then and happier. We didn't go without either, because we acted and thought locally which had meaning.
The answer is simplify.
Meaningful spending and simplifying are two solutions you have identified that I wholeheartedly support.
DeleteWe will always have local economies, but they will increasingly be centered on providing us with things that we NEED rather than excessive luxuries.
You have come to the same conclusion I have - not buying stuff is liberating, as is not having to work to get the money to buy the stuff.